Bela Sumares
Bela Sumares | |
|---|---|
Sumares in 1942 | |
| Born | Cambridge, MA |
| Died | July 2, 1980 (aged 68) |
| Other names | Poppy of California |
Izabel "Bela" Zita Sumares (July 2, 1912 - March 2, 1980) was a Portuguese American entertainer who led a weekly radio show in Oakland, California.
Early life
Sumares was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of five children.[1] Her parents, Mary (Souza) and Antonio Sumares, were both born in Madeira, Portugal.[2] She lived in Oakland, California.
Career
Described as "a cross between Carmen Miranda and Martha Raye," Sumares could sing, dance, and perform comedy.[3] She led a group of Portuguese Americans who put on a daily hour-long radio program daily on KROW in Oakland, California.[4][5] Called "an early star of Portuguese radio," Sumares would sing in both Portuguese and English.[6][7] Their Portuguese Variety Show performed at festivals in California in the 1930s through the 1960s.[8][9] Sumares took her act on the road and performed at other Portuguese-themed events.[10]
Sumares created her own radio program Hora da Papoila (Poppy Time) which ran weekly on KSAN.[11] Later in her career she would sometimes represent Brazil at Pan-American events.[12]
References
- ^ "Mary Sumares Obit". Oakland Tribune. April 1, 1983. p. 8. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Congress, Library of (January 1942). "Bella Sumares metadata". Flickr.com. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Go 'Native' at "Night in Portugal"". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Honolulu, HI. December 8, 1971. p. 31. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Birthday". The Oakland Post Enquirer. Oakland, CA. July 11, 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "From "Castles of Romance" to Thrill Party Throngs". The Oakland Post Enquirer. December 10, 1936. p. 15. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Schneider, John F. (2012). Bay Area Radio. Arcadia. p. 97. ISBN 9780738589107. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ Vaz, August Mark (1965). The Portuguese in California. Oakland, CA: I. D. E. S. Supreme Council. p. 223. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Ten Day Fiesta to Begin Saturday Evening". The West Side Index. Newman, California. August 20, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Top Performers Due at International Family Picnic". The Berkeley Gazette. October 15, 1965. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Kahala Slates Portugal Night". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Honolulu HI. November 28, 1971. p. 162. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Los Amigos to Hear Official Tell of Brazil". Berkeley Gazette. June 16, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved 13 September 2025.
- ^ "Pan-American Week Observance Tonight by Los Amigos Program". The Independent. Richmond, CA. April 20, 1956. p. 4. Retrieved 13 September 2025.